SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI attackman John Daniel and Air Force goalkeeper Braden Host have been named the Southern Conference men’s lacrosse offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from March 6-12. The awards are selected by the league office.

Daniel scored eight goals and added an assist for nine points on the week as the Keydets dropped a 9-8 decision to Marist and an 18-12 contest to Richmond in their league opener. The sophomore from Fairfax, Virginia, had a goal and an assist in the narrow loss to the Red Foxes on March 6 before making SoCon history against the Spiders on Saturday. Daniel scored seven goals – more than half of VMI’s team total – to surpass the league record of six shared by five other players. The total was tied for third-most in school history and marked the first time a VMI player had scored that many in a game since 2005.

Host earned the start in goal in both of the Falcons’ contests on the week, posting 18 total saves, an 8.00 goals against average and a .600 save percentage in Air Force’s 1-1 week. The freshman from Aurora, Colorado, made five saves and allowed five goals in 30 minutes of work in a 14-9 loss at Michigan on Friday, departing at halftime with the game tied at 5. Host went the distance against Detroit Mercy two days later, making a season-best 13 saves and allowing just seven goals in the 9-7 win. Host faced a barrage of shots on the week, facing 21 in just a half of play at Michigan before seeing 35 against the Titans.